Probably every school in this city will sponsor an amusement park trip. Are we serious? Categorizing trips???

The primary problem with checks is not, in fact, that they may bounce (although that has happened.) Rather the issue is with who the check is made out to. Some will make them out to the teacher herself. Some will make them out in the name of the school. Or even payable to the place the kids are going. Depending on circumstances, checks made out to the school can take months to clear and get back to reimburse the right person. Checks payable to a teacher have to be deposited to her account. It is a huge hassle all around.

By the way, what school is taking kids of a field trip to an amusement park? That sounds like a youth group type of activity, NOT a school trip.

[quote=Anonymous]00:24, you asked all the right questions. DCPS is quite archaic in technology regarding collecting money.[/quote]

Good point. If DCPS can demand online payment for Mylunchmoney.com, why can't DCPS use a similar secure online program for school trips?

00:24, you asked all the right questions. DCPS is quite archaic in technology regarding collecting money.

What's a check?

Seriously though, I don't see the problem with cash. Electronic payments cost money, and then there's the logistics of that. Should the teacher set up a paypal account? The principal? Are they even allowed to have separate accounts without the school system's approval? Who pays the maintenance fee for the account? Who gets the interest?

I almost agree on the PDF permission slips except the kids could forge those themselves. This generation can barely write in print, let alone sign in cursive.

Challenge with online payments is that you have to pay a fee, it adds up. Are you willing to pay the service fee for the convenience? I can just imagine all the hollering if you did. Fact is that it is a pain in the but to collect all this money, I am sure a thank you might serve just as well.

I used to be a DCPS teacher and I too asked for cash. I didn't keep it in my personal possession. Each day I'd bring it to the office. I had so many problems with checks and with the many other things I was organizing at the same time asking for cash prevented one big headache. You are really making a big deal, relax.

Anonymous wrote:my kid would not be going to Six Flags.

but for any other field trip I can understand them only wanting cash.

why do you hate six flags?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this strike anyone else as absurd and risky? I understand that they may have gotten stiffed in the past by bounced checks for this end of the year trip to Six Flags--but then set it up where you pay online. Or give each child a receipt after they pay. I can't believe they expect 800 or so parents to hand a teacher or some office admin $60 in cash and say--"have fun at the park!" I really wish that Deal could modernize this permission slip nonsense and get it all online with PDF sign offs and digital pay.

This is such an excellent idea.

Yes, the idea makes sense. So... Who is going to set it up, reconcile with confidential DCPS data or separate school directory database, monitor the system, yada yadda yadda? The front office with shrinking staff and resources?

In the hierarchy of need in DCPS, this would rank where exactly? How about we start with more funding for educational field trip transportation.